This day in music history on August 2, 1998, Mojo Magazine published the results from a nation-wide survey asking ‘Who is your favorite recording artist of all time: 5th place was [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Elton John[/lastfm] 4th, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Queen[/lastfm], 3rd, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Frank Sinatra[/lastfm], 2nd, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Elvis Presley[/lastfm] and in 1st place, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]The Beatles[/lastfm]. Click “more” to learn other interesting facts, this week in music history.

This Week in Music Over the Years (July 31 – August 6)

July 31, 1971 – [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]James Taylor[/lastfm] went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Carole King[/lastfm] song ‘You Got A Friend’. The song would go on to win the 1971 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. Taylor scored nine other solo US Top 40 hits during the 70’s.

August 1, 2002 - A new book ‘Show the Girl the Door’ written by a former tour manager disclosed some strange demands by female acts. It revealed that [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Shania Twain[/lastfm] would travel with a sniffer dog in case of bombs. [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Jennifer Lopez[/lastfm] liked her dressing room to be all white, including carpets flowers and furniture. [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Cher[/lastfm] would have high security rooms for her wigs. [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Janet Jackson[/lastfm] would have a full medical team on standby including a doctor nurse and throat specialist and [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Britney Spears[/lastfm] would demand her favourite Gummie Bear soft sweets.

August 2, 1998 – Mojo Magazine published the results from a nation-wide survey asking ‘Who is your favourite recording artist of all time: 5th place was Elton John 4th, Queen, 3rd, Frank Sinatra, 2nd, Elvis Presley and in 1st place, The Beatles.

August 3, 1985 – [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Madonna[/lastfm] scored her first UK No.1 single with ‘Into The Groove’. The track was taken from the movie ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ which featured Madonna and Rosanna Arquette. ‘Into The Groove’ is Madonna’s best selling single in the UK, having sold over 850,000 copies.

August 4, 1967 - A female [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Monkees[/lastfm] fan stowed away on the bands plane between shows in Minneapolis and St Louis. The girl’s father threatened to bring charges for transporting a minor across state lines.

August 5, 1975 – Drummer [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Sandy West[/lastfm] and guitarist [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Joan Jett[/lastfm] formed the first ever all female heavy rock band “[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]The Runaways[/lastfm]” after being introduced by producer [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Kim Fowley[/lastfm]. The band released four studio albums, among its best known songs: ‘Cherry Bomb’, ‘Queens of Noise’ and a cover of The [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Velvet Underground[/lastfm]’s ‘Rock n Roll’.

August 6, 2004 – [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Rick James[/lastfm] was found dead at his Los Angeles home. Known as ‘The King of Punk-Funk’ James scored the 1981 US No.3 album ‘Street Songs’ and 1981 US No.16 single ‘Super Freak part 1’. In the late 60’s James worked as a songwriter and producer for Motown, working with [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Smokey Robinson[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]The Miracles[/lastfm]. Addicted to cocaine, he once admitted to spending $7,000 a week on drugs for five years.